ARTICLES POSTED APRIL 27

ACE Events — MAY 2026

Check out ACE’s flagship, regional and digital events for May. See the Events tab on the ACE website for all the details. (Posted 4/27/26) [MORE]

ACE Western Pennsylvania: CoasterBash! XXXVII

Early March is too soon to ride coasters in western Pennsylvania but certainly not too soon to anticipate what one’s favorite parks might be planning for the upcoming coaster season. To catch up on what’s happening, 219 attendees gathered on March 7 for ACE Western Pennsylvania’s nonriding winter event CoasterBash! XXXVII. It was a surprisingly warm 72 degrees outside, but all the action was inside Salvatore’s, an event space in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. (Posted 4/27/26) [MORE]

ACE Eastern Pennsylvania: Merry-Go-ACE

ACE members gathered for an evening of classic charm and carousel fun at The Carousel at Pottstown during ACE Eastern Pennsylvania’s first-ever Merry-Go-ACE event on Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Posted 4/27/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED APRIL 20

The Great Nor’Easter 2026

On a breezy and sunny March 14, 109 regional ACE members and their guests attended the ACE New England region’s off-season event, The Great Nor’Easter. Held in the Starlight Theater at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, it was a great way to reconnect with fellow enthusiasts and park representatives after a very long, cold and snowy winter. (Posted 4/20/26) [MORE]

Nuts & Bolts – April 2026

• That’s No Bull
• Blue and Purple
• Daredeviler
• Gee Wizz
• Bob Out, Bob In

(Posted 4/20/26) [MORE]

ACE Executive Committee Meeting Summary, March 2026

Nine members of the Executive Committee, along with ACE’s association manager, Jeffrey Seifert, met on March 21-22 in Dallas, Texas, for one of the Executive Committee’s three in‑person meetings each year. Two members attended on one day, each via Zoom. This was also the final weekend‑long meeting of my presidency. (Posted 4/20/26) [MORE]

Remembering Tom Rhodes, 1948-2026

Long-time ACEers will remember Thomas Glen Rhodes, who passed away March 14, 2026, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. (Posted 4/20/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED APRIL 13

ACE South Central: Fiesta Fest

ACE members and the Melanin Coaster Network had the opportunity to take part in Fiesta Fest at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio on Saturday, March 14, 2026. This special event happened during Texas’ largest Mardi Gras celebration, coinciding with the busy spring break period. Fortunately, participants had Fast Lane passes, which proved invaluable for skipping long ride lines. They also enjoyed exclusive access to the Coca-Cola VIP lounge for a more relaxed experience. (Posted 4/13/26) [MORE]

From the President

March always brings a special kind of reflection for me. With Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day woven throughout the month, I’ve found myself thinking more intentionally about my own journey as a female coaster enthusiast. (Posted 4/13/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED MARCH 30

Behind-the-Scenes Maintenance Tour

ACE members were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Hersheypark during a special tour of the park’s Service Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Held on the afternoon of Friday, February 6, 2026, this unique experience gave attendees a rare opportunity to explore the spaces where Hersheypark’s rides are maintained, restored and prepared for another season of thrills. (Posted 3/30/26) [MORE]

ACE Eastern Pennsylvania: Eastcoaster 2026

There are no coasters to ride or credits to add to a coaster count, but that’s not the point of preseason nonriding events. Inquiring minds want to know what will be new and fun during the upcoming coaster season, and what better way to find out than to go to a comfy indoor venue for an all-day nerdout with park presenters and fellow enthusiasts? Welcome to Eastcoaster 2026! (Posted 3/30/26) [MORE]

Behind the Sweet Scenes at Hershey’s Chocolate World

ACE members got an exclusive early morning look inside one of Hershey’s most beloved attractions during a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride at Hershey's Chocolate World (Hershey, Pennsylvania). Held on Sunday, February 8, 2026, this unique experience offered attendees a rare opportunity to step off the ride vehicles and into the inner workings of the attraction before it opened to the public. (Posted 3/30/26) [MORE]

Preservation News: An Update on ACE’s First Centennial Award Winner, Giant Dipper

Following a five-week and purported $1.6-million renovation, the 100-year-old classic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster at the revived Belmont Amusement Center at Mission Beach, California, is once again open. Included in this year’s renovation was an extensive replacement of track and added reinforcement of the supporting frame on the Dipper’s north end. (Posted 3/30/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED MARCH 23

Barracuda Strike Maximizes Thrills for “Family” Coaster at SeaWorld San Antonio

A clear industry trend is the strong push for family attractions. There will always be a place for towering thrill-seeker extreme rides — which are great for marketing — but parks have demonstrated great effort in adding rides that most of the family can enjoy together. (Posted 3/23/26) [MORE]

No Coaster Con — A Look Back at ACE’s Original and First Midwinter Event

No Coaster Con celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2026. It was ACE’s first midwinter event, established in 1981. (Posted 3/23/26) [MORE]

ACE South Central: Winterfest (Take Two) a Spectacular Success in Texas

Sometimes Mother Nature and Murphy’s Law have a collision — it’s not a good thing. Although January in Texas was considerably warmer than normal, when an ice storm hit, it naturally chose the weekend of Winterfest and canceled the ACE South Central midwinter event. (Posted 3/23/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED MARCH 9

Wadatsumi to Debut at Greenland

As has been the case many times in recent history, Skyline Attractions is partnering with Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII) — this time along with Sanoyas Rides Corporation — to create Wadatsumi, a custom wood roller coaster for Greenland amusement park in Arao, Kumamoto, Japan. If all goes according to plan, it will entertain its first riders in spring of 2028. (Posted 3/9/26) [MORE]

ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala, Day 2

The final day of the ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala started with attendees showing off their cups/mugs from different parks and coasters and then proceeded into this year’s trivia. Participants were stumped by some challenging questions as they learned about the preservation efforts of ACE. (Posted 3/9/26) [MORE]

ARTICLES POSTED MARCH 2

Six Flags Mexico’s Coaster Count Climbs Into the Double Digits

In the mid-1980s, the Vekoma boomerang was causing a stir. Loops were still en vogue, so a compact ride that delivered six inversions on a small footprint was heavily sought after. In all, Vekoma went on to sell more than 50. It was popular for multiple reasons. (Posted 3/2/26) [MORE]

New GCII Woodie Heading to Czech Republic

In an era when the balance of adding new wooden coasters and losing wooden coasters can tip either way, hearing of new wooden coaster projects is always a good thing. (Posted 3/2/26) [MORE]

ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala, Day 1

The second annual ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala started with a toast to ACE preservation, featuring this year’s mocktail, the ACE Landmark Lemonade. (Posted 3/2/26) [MORE]